Chemistry at University of Washington-Seattle Campus

UW Seattle's chemistry program achieves something rare: earnings above the national median paired with remarkably low debt. At $15,389, graduates carry about a third less debt than the typical chemistry major nationwide, while earning $46,369 in their first year—enough to place them in the 78th percentile nationally. That 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio means most graduates could realistically pay off their loans within a year if they prioritized it aggressively.

Within Washington state, this program sits right at the median for earnings, which might initially seem unremarkable. But consider that UW Seattle achieves these results with dramatically lower debt than most state competitors—nearly $7,000 less than the state median of $22,552. Western Washington edges ahead by about $2,000 in starting salary, but graduates there typically carry more debt to get it. The 16% earnings growth to $53,639 by year four suggests steady career progression rather than a ceiling effect.

For Washington residents especially, this represents strong value: flagship university credentials, competitive earnings, and minimal debt burden. The combination should appeal to families who want their chemistry graduate to enter the workforce or graduate school without significant financial constraints.